Defamation Warmup

Ross Geller is a paleontology professor at NYU and is married to Rachel.

1. Ross became angry because someone stole his sandwich, but he's not sure who took it. Ross posts a video on TikTok in which he falsely accuses his colleague of being a "dirty rotten thief." Is Ross's statement libel or slander? Why? (2 points)
2. Ross's employer fires him because of the post. Is Ross's job protected by the First Amendment? Why or why not? (1 point)
3. Ross's former student, Emily, tells a bunch of her friends that, "If you bribe Professor Gellar he will give you an A." She also tells them that she is dating Prof. Gellar. Are these statements defamatory? (2 points)